Producer opens up about record-breaking collaboration with the late singer
Quincy Jones has talked about his time working with Michael Jackson, saying they came together by accident.
In an interview with Billboard to mark his 80th birthday and forthcoming induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the celebrated producer, who worked with Jackson on his albums 'Off The Wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad', says he met the fledgling solo artist while making 1978 'Wizard Of Oz' adaptation 'The Wiz'. Jackson initially asked Jones if he'd help him find a producer.
"I said, 'Michael, look, you don't even have a song in the picture yet. I don't want to think about that. Let’s get you a song'. He was only on 'Ease On Down The Road', that's all we had. He was so curious, inquisitive. He knew everybody's dialogue [in the film]."
Of their collaborations, which led to the best-selling album of all time in 'Thriller', which has sold around 110 million copies, Jones says he was looking to do something that had never been done before. "I was thinking about the range of his voice. That's the stuff you do, the architecture of your production. Michael was so smart and intuitive. He just hooked onto everything and watched everybody. Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr, James Brown. We put our backgrounds together and we did it."
Jones, who has been nominated for a record 79 Grammys, winning 27 of them, will be inducted into the Rock And Hall Of Fame on April 18. He said: "It's too early. I'm too young. My age may be 80 but I feel 35."
source: link
Quincy Jones has talked about his time working with Michael Jackson, saying they came together by accident.
In an interview with Billboard to mark his 80th birthday and forthcoming induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the celebrated producer, who worked with Jackson on his albums 'Off The Wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad', says he met the fledgling solo artist while making 1978 'Wizard Of Oz' adaptation 'The Wiz'. Jackson initially asked Jones if he'd help him find a producer.
"I said, 'Michael, look, you don't even have a song in the picture yet. I don't want to think about that. Let’s get you a song'. He was only on 'Ease On Down The Road', that's all we had. He was so curious, inquisitive. He knew everybody's dialogue [in the film]."
Of their collaborations, which led to the best-selling album of all time in 'Thriller', which has sold around 110 million copies, Jones says he was looking to do something that had never been done before. "I was thinking about the range of his voice. That's the stuff you do, the architecture of your production. Michael was so smart and intuitive. He just hooked onto everything and watched everybody. Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr, James Brown. We put our backgrounds together and we did it."
Jones, who has been nominated for a record 79 Grammys, winning 27 of them, will be inducted into the Rock And Hall Of Fame on April 18. He said: "It's too early. I'm too young. My age may be 80 but I feel 35."
source: link
The company suing the Michael Jackson estate for $300 million over the Jackson family concert that never took place just got two strikes against it, and the pitcher was a federal judge.
The judge on Tuesday threw out two of the three claims AllGood Entertainment filed against the estate, AEG and Frank Dileo.
The suit claims Dileo, MJ's alleged former manager, made a deal with AllGood that Michael would perform at a Jackson Family concert before doing any other gigs. By launching the London series of concerts, AllGood claims Jackson breached his deal and cost AllGood a bundle.
But a federal judge ruled AllGood's claim for fraud and tortious interference (i.e., intermeddling) was bogus. All that is left of the lawsuit is a breach of contract claim.
The estate claims Dileo never had authority to make a deal with AllGood.
The judge on Tuesday threw out two of the three claims AllGood Entertainment filed against the estate, AEG and Frank Dileo.
The suit claims Dileo, MJ's alleged former manager, made a deal with AllGood that Michael would perform at a Jackson Family concert before doing any other gigs. By launching the London series of concerts, AllGood claims Jackson breached his deal and cost AllGood a bundle.
But a federal judge ruled AllGood's claim for fraud and tortious interference (i.e., intermeddling) was bogus. All that is left of the lawsuit is a breach of contract claim.
The estate claims Dileo never had authority to make a deal with AllGood.
MZ has learned Dr. Conrad Murray will go about his normal business -- seeing patients -- on the anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.
We're told Murray will not visit MJ's mausoleum Friday, because it will cause a scene. He will, we're told, pay his respects around that time, when no one is there.
Miranda Sevcik, the PR rep for Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, tells TMZ, "Dr. Murray will be mourning privately. He doesn't want to distract people by reminding them of Michael's death. He'd rather people remember his friend, Michael Jackson, as he was in life
We're told Murray will not visit MJ's mausoleum Friday, because it will cause a scene. He will, we're told, pay his respects around that time, when no one is there.
Miranda Sevcik, the PR rep for Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, tells TMZ, "Dr. Murray will be mourning privately. He doesn't want to distract people by reminding them of Michael's death. He'd rather people remember his friend, Michael Jackson, as he was in life
Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, is preparing to release a coffee table book dedicated to her late son ... this according to a new report.
According to Showbiz411.com, the book will be released next week and is called "Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives." The book will reportedly consist of photos on one page and Katherine's thoughts and memories on another ... and will be sold through a website, www.jacksonsecretvault.com.
The site also says Katherine gave an interview with former MJ confidante Marc Schaffel in an effort to promote the book -- a curious decision because Schaffel was heavily involved in Michael's life at one point, but the two had a huge falling out which resulted in several lawsuits.
As we first reported, Katherine plans on taking Michael's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- to Michael's hometown of Gary, IN on the anniversary of his death.
According to Showbiz411.com, the book will be released next week and is called "Never Can Say Goodbye: The Katherine Jackson Archives." The book will reportedly consist of photos on one page and Katherine's thoughts and memories on another ... and will be sold through a website, www.jacksonsecretvault.com.
The site also says Katherine gave an interview with former MJ confidante Marc Schaffel in an effort to promote the book -- a curious decision because Schaffel was heavily involved in Michael's life at one point, but the two had a huge falling out which resulted in several lawsuits.
As we first reported, Katherine plans on taking Michael's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- to Michael's hometown of Gary, IN on the anniversary of his death.
TMZ has learned Katherine Jackson and Michael Jackson's three kids will not be in L.A. to commemorate the one-year anniversary of MJ's death.
Sources connected with the family tell TMZ the gang will be at Michael's birthplace -- Gary, Indiana -- where they will observe the day.
We're told Katherine is set on Gary because she feels it is a "family point of connection" -- and it's just too crazy in L.A.
Our sources say Katherine, Prince, Paris, and Blanket will keep things private with relatives and friends in Gary.
Sources connected with the family tell TMZ the gang will be at Michael's birthplace -- Gary, Indiana -- where they will observe the day.
We're told Katherine is set on Gary because she feels it is a "family point of connection" -- and it's just too crazy in L.A.
Our sources say Katherine, Prince, Paris, and Blanket will keep things private with relatives and friends in Gary.
You'll probably never get this letter
Michael, I wrote you a hundred times before
Knowing how I feel, I'll write a hundred more"
"Dear Michael, everytime your records on
Michael, I close my eyes and sing along
Dreaming you're singing to me"
And then she wrote
"Michael, I love you
I've held tears back long as I can
I'm sealing my feelings in this envelope
Cause I wanna be more than just your number one fan
I'm gonna answer your letter
I'll start beginning with the ABCs of loving you
Your letter really touched my heart
I've been dreaming of meeting the picture
That you sent along, signed with all your love
(Michael, Michael)
(I want you)
(She wrote)
I'm gonna write you back
Ooh, I promise you that
Girl, I think I love you
Hurry, hurry Mr Postman
Take my letter
Tell her her I love her
Hurry, hurry Mr Postman
Take my letter
Tell her I love her